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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020 21_endorsing Tulsa Chamber One Voice Agenda for 2021TO: FROM: SUBJECT: DATE: BACKGROUND: The Honorable Mayor and City Council / Juliann M. Stevens Resolution 2020 -21, endorsing the 2021 OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda December 11, 2020 In 2007, the OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda was created out of a desire by the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce to unify regional advocacy influence at the State Capital and in Washington, DC. A vital part of the OneVoice process is the endorsement of the legislative agenda by all community partners and local government entities affiliated and involved in the development of the agenda. The Tulsa Regional Chamber is requesting the City of Owasso endorse and advocate for the 2021 OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda. The 2021 OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda has a wide array of focal points inclusive of both private and public interests with an emphasis on creating effective solutions for meeting the needs of Oklahoma's core services to include new and stable recurring revenue streams to fund or continue funding transportation, infrastructure, education, health care, and workforce resources. A proposed resolution was presented to the City Council for review and discussion at the December work session. Staff recommends approval of Resolution 2020 -21, endorsing the 2021 OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda. ATTACHMENTS: Work session Memo December 4, 2020 Resolution 2020 -21 BACKGROUND: In 2007, the OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda was created out of a desire by the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce to unify regional advocacy influence at the State Capital and in Washington, DC. A vital part of the OneVoice process is the endorsement of the legislative agenda by all community partners and local government entities affiliated and involved in the development of the agenda. The Tulsa Regional Chamber is requesting the City of Owasso endorse and advocate for the 2021 OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda. ONEVOICE PROCESS: The annual legislative agenda is developed through the collaboration of more than 500 regional partners representing chambers of commerce, municipalities, counties, school districts, economic development organizations, and industry members. A key part of the OneVoice process is its exploratory task forces, where experts in each field come together to identify problems and craft solutions for the region and state. This year, task force meetings, as well as the legislative summit, used a virtual platform to discuss, identify, and prioritize key legislative issues for both the state and federal agendas. These priorities will be shared with state legislators and members of Congress throughout the state and federal sessions. 2021 ONEVOICE AGENDA: The 2021 OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda has a wide array of focal points inclusive of both private and public interests. As in year's past, there is an emphasis on creating effective solutions to meet the needs of Oklahoma's core services to include new and stable recurring revenue streams to fund or continue funding transportation, infrastructure, education, health care, and workforce resources. An item has been placed on the December 8, 2020 Worksession agenda for additional discussion TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Juliann M. Stevens City Clerk SUBJECT: Proposed Resolution, endorsing the 2021 OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda DATE: December 4, 2020 BACKGROUND: In 2007, the OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda was created out of a desire by the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce to unify regional advocacy influence at the State Capital and in Washington, DC. A vital part of the OneVoice process is the endorsement of the legislative agenda by all community partners and local government entities affiliated and involved in the development of the agenda. The Tulsa Regional Chamber is requesting the City of Owasso endorse and advocate for the 2021 OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda. ONEVOICE PROCESS: The annual legislative agenda is developed through the collaboration of more than 500 regional partners representing chambers of commerce, municipalities, counties, school districts, economic development organizations, and industry members. A key part of the OneVoice process is its exploratory task forces, where experts in each field come together to identify problems and craft solutions for the region and state. This year, task force meetings, as well as the legislative summit, used a virtual platform to discuss, identify, and prioritize key legislative issues for both the state and federal agendas. These priorities will be shared with state legislators and members of Congress throughout the state and federal sessions. 2021 ONEVOICE AGENDA: The 2021 OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda has a wide array of focal points inclusive of both private and public interests. As in year's past, there is an emphasis on creating effective solutions to meet the needs of Oklahoma's core services to include new and stable recurring revenue streams to fund or continue funding transportation, infrastructure, education, health care, and workforce resources. An item has been placed on the December 8, 2020 Worksession agenda for additional discussion CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA RESOLUTION 2020 -21 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA ENDORSING THE TULSA REGIONAL CHAMBER 2021 ONEVOICE REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WHEREAS, The Tulsa Regional Chamber, through the collaboration of more than 500 regional partners representing chambers of commerce, municipalities, counties, school districts, economic development organizations, and industry members, have determined a regional legislative agenda for 2021; and, WHEREAS, through these partnerships, the OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda (see attachment) has come to reflect a unified commitment to improve and develop economic stability for northeast Oklahoma through active participation in our state and federal political processes; and WHEREAS, there is a need to increase our influence by efficiently communicating a regional message to the state legislature, members of congress, state and federal agencies aimed at maximizing resources and shaping policy that profoundly benefits our citizens. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OWASSO, OKLAHOMA, that, to -wit: The Owasso City Council hereby endorses the Tulsa Regional Chamber 2021 OneVoice Regional Legislative Agenda. (SEAL) APPRO AS TO FORM: Julie V mbardi, City Attorney Attachment Resolution 20 -21 voice regional business advocacy '20921 Rego efi'l%3i1 A e?nml_l STATE PRIORITIES ENSURING A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY MUNICIPAL FUNDING DIVERSIFICATION: Support legislation that removes barriers to allowing municipalities to reduce costs, increase efficiencies and diversify sources of revenue for operating revenue. Key initiatives include diversifying revenue for funding public safety agencies, streets and other infrastructure improvements, and preserving and strengthening cities' authority to promote economic development activities within their borders. STRENGTHEN OUR STARTUP ECOSYSTEM: Create targeted incentive programs that will foster the growth of northeast Oklahoma's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Oklahoma ranks 47th in venture capital expenditure, falling well behind our peers. Adopting a successful model employed in many other states, the Legislature should incentivize investment in Oklahoma angel networks. In addition to improving access to capital, efforts should also be made to improve the incentives available to startup, early -stage and small companies by creating targeted new credits and deductions or amending existing programs. ECONOMIC INCENTIVES: Support tax credits, exemptions and incentives that provide an economic return to the state of Oklahoma, maintain our competitiveness in business attraction and retention, and increase capital investment. Several programs proposed for review by the Oklahoma Incentive Evaluation Commission are critical to our state's competitiveness and should be continued, including: • Five -Year Manufacturing Ad Valorem Exemption • Manufacturing Sales Tax Exemption Permit • Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit • All Quality Jobs programs • Quality Events Program • Film Enhancement Rebate • Automotive Engineering Tax Credit • Aerospace Engineering Tax Credit • Small Business Incubator Tenant Credit • Oklahoma Seed Capital Fund SELF- DETERMINATION IN FACILITY FIREARM POLICY: While supporting the rights granted by the Second Amendment, protect the current law giving venue owners, event operators and recreational facilities the authority to control firearm policies on property they manage. Removing this control would endanger Oklahoma's ability to attract events that bring thousands of visitors and millions of dollars into our economy each year. Many events — especially in youth and collegiate sports— have nonnegotiable firearm policies, and removing the controls under current law would limit facility operators' ability to ensure the safety of their events and increase the cost of providing security, as well as potentially subjecting them to additional liability. voi0ce regional business advocacy 2021 Regional Legislative Agenda CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM: Strengthen alternatives to incarceration and support reforms in sentencing, reentry and rehabilitation that safely reduce the prison population and enable nonviolent offenders to reenter the workforce. This should include investments in treatment and early- diversion efforts for individuals suffering from mental illness and addiction, increased access to training and job placement for those incarcerated or being released, as well as structural changes in the criminal justice system. These smart-on -crime reforms would improve community safety, reduce recidivism, lessen the burden on prisons and safety net programs, and enable more ex offenders to contribute meaningfully to Oklahoma's economy. BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL TO BUSINESS MAKE OKLAHOMA A TOP 10 PIPELINE SAFETY STATE: Support the elimination of all exemptions to Oklahoma's one -call program, OKIE811. Eliminatingthe exemptions tothe one -call program strongly promotes pipeline and underground utility safety. Support data - gathering initiatives that will provide additional information regarding sources of underground damages and initiatives that will limit unsafe excavations that have not been properly cleared by OKIE811. Exemptions to the one -call program contribute to underground utility incidents, threatening the safety and welfare of our fellow Oklahomans. This is especially important for the safety of the workers excavating without prior knowledge of what is below the ground. ATTRACT DEVELOPMENT, MANUFACTURING AND USE OF ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS: The Oklahoma governor, Legislature, Department of Commerce, and Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology ( OCAST) should pursue legislation, policies and funding designed to attract investment for the development, manufacture and use of energy storage systems in Oklahoma. Advancing technology, declining costs and Oklahoma's abundant natural renewable energy resources make these systems a desirable solution to lower energy costs and increase resiliency — all things that make Oklahoma attractive for new economic development. OCAST and the Department of Commerce recruitment and expansion programs can bring these technologyjobs to Oklahoma. Encouraging the development of advanced technologies for energy storage will ensure Oklahoma remains a leader in 21st century energy. SUPPORT CRITICALLY NEEDED TRANSPORTATION FUNDING: Continue to improve our roads and bridges, and return our streets and highways to a state of good repair, by fully funding the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's Eight -Year Plan and raising the funding cap on the County Improvement for Roads and Bridges Five -Year Plan. Initiate the programming and funding for the next phase of major regional roadway projects, including high capacity expressway -to- expressway interchanges between I- 44, U.S. 169, and State Highway 51; 1 -44 and State Highway 66 (near Catoosa); and capacity expansion of 2021 Regional Legislative Agenda U.S. 169 to six lanes from 66th Street North to State Highway 20; State Highway 20 bypass in Claremore; completion of expansion of State Highway 266 west of State Highway 167 and the Port of Catoosa: expansion of U.S. 75 to six lanes from 1 -244 (Red Fork Expressway) to State Highway 67; and State Highway 11 improvements. EDUCATED AND HEALTHY WORKFORCE ADDRESS THE TEACHER SHORTAGE: Improve the ability of Oklahoma's pre -K -12 public schools to attract and retain effective careerteachers through policies designed to increase the state's pool of qualified teachers and improve teachers'job satisfaction. This should include developing a plan to become the top state in the region for teacher pay, incentivizing aspiring educators by providing full tuition waivers for education majors, and improving teaching conditions by reducing class sizes and increasing the number of education support professionals. MEDICAID EXPANSION: Successfully implement complete Medicaid expansion, as approved by Oklahoma voters, through the historically efficient and effective Oklahoma Health Care Authority administration to support the vitality of Oklahoma's $12.5 billion health care industry. LOCAL FUNDING OF EDUCATION: Provide municipalities the ability to supplement state education funding and target the unique priorities of their community. Voters in local communities should be able to increase their investment in their public schools without sacrificing or impacting their state funding. HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE EXPANSION: Address increasing health care workforce needs related to Medicaid expansion through the following means: • Use all available state and federal resources to support programs that expand community - based graduate medical education to meet the needs of a growing, aging and diverse population. • Consistently fund the Physician Manpower Training Commission to enhance recruitment and retention of physicians and other health care professionals in medically underserved areas. • Allow nurse practitioners and physician assistants with appropriate levels of training and experience to practice to the full extent of their licenses as part of a health care team. • Support reimbursement for approved programs that use technology to provide a collaborative model of medical education and care management, empowering primary care clinicians in rural and underserved communities to provide specialty care to patients. • Support and incentivize graduate medical education and fellowships in underserved specialties. • Request the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma Department of Commerce and other state entities seek funding to address the gap in the number of health care practitioners and support occupations, including entry -level caregivers, needed throughout the state's health systems during the next 10 years. 2021 Regional OKLAHOMA'S EDUCATION FUNDING: An exceptional education system provides leverage for Oklahoma by creating a competitively equipped and educated workforce, attracting new business, and ensuring that current businesses have the talent to thrive. To accomplish this, the state must: • Create and maintain a five -year, sustainable strategic funding plan so both the state of Oklahoma and its students have a competitive advantage. • Modernize funding formulas to ensure equity of opportunity for students and maximum effectiveness of funds for our state. • Distribute public education funds using an equitable and consistent method to support common, CareerTech and higher education to enhance Oklahoma's educational pipeline. MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND SUPPORT: Expand and strengthen mental health and substance abuse services as a key tactic in the state's fight against COVID -19 and the ensuing economic downturn. The pandemic and recession have worsened a behavioral health crisis that increases employer costs and harms the state's workforce. To minimize the effects, Oklahoma should: • Capitalize on an opportunity to expand services with no new state dollars by maintaining level appropriations to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services as Medicaid expansion takes effect. • Reverse cuts in provider rates and restore reimbursements for behavioral health and addiction treatment providers, including inpatient care. • Ensure fair and equal access to mental health treatment by boosting compliance with existing federal parity law, improving mental telehealth access and implementing parity transparency passed in SB 1718. • Oppose substantial changes in the administrative structure of the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services without first conducting a thorough study and appropriate engagement of stakeholder groups. • Support integrated care at all levels of health care delivery by funding screening, training, collaborative care and consultation, and providing legislative clarity around timely, reliable and complete health data exchange between providers. ACCESSIBLE CHILD CARE: As highlighted during the COVID -19 pandemic, access to safe child care is a critical component of the economic engine. We support incentives and protection to mitigate risk for employers to encourage establishing onsite child care. We also support incentives for employers who offer access to child care for workers making less than the MSA average per capita annually. This would include special incentives to existing child care facilities to reopen safely by giving preference to those that make modifications enabling them to offer their prior capacity or more of children served daily. An evaluation of the existing childcare supplement program income thresholds also needs to take place. 2 021 Regional Legislative Agenda FEDERAL PRIORITIES ENSURING A PROSPEROUS ECONOMY SUPPORT FUNDING FOR CRITICAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS: Strongly support, or oppose efforts to cut, targeted economic development funding for programs proven to be effective and beneficial to the Tulsa region. These include the Economic Development Administration (EDA) grants for infrastructure and planning and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a program under the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology. MEP partners with the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance (OMA) to help small- and medium -sized manufacturers create and retain jobs, improve overall business resilience, and increase bottom -line performance. The program returns $65 for each $1 invested in new sales for Oklahoma manufacturers, and OMA ranks in the top three MEP centers in the United States. Assure OMA funding remains at current levels or higher in its partnership with MEP. EXTEND THE FEDERAL INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT: Encourage the long -term extension of the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which is currently phasing out and set to expire in 2022, for solar energy and all other technologies historically included in this incentive. Additionally, we encourage stand -alone energy storage as an eligible technology for the ITC. Oklahoma continues to develop and utilize wind energy to maintain some of the lowest electricity rates in the country. Extension of the federal ITC for solar and energy storage systems builds on that success and continues to place our state at the forefront of new technology in the energy sector. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION AND RESEARCH: Make permanent the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs aid researcl and development, spur innovation and create jobs by fostering the commercialization of new products through federal investment and collaboration. BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE CRITICAL TO BUSINESS PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION: Support legislative proposals reauthorizing safety programs under the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). Funding critical safety efforts is essential, and we support proposals to improve safety outcomes by modernizing data collection and information sharing systems, updating regulations, and utilizing developments in technology. We also support efforts to strengthen criminal penalties for damaging pipeline facilities. Reauthorizing and reenergizing these safety programs under PHMSA will ensure the reliable delivery of energy resources for both producers and consumers in our region. UPGRADE AIR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE: Strongly encourage Congress to allocate funding for antiquated air traffic control facilities when identified through their national air space system capital 2021 Regional Legislative Agenda investment plan as a severely deficient facility and support alternative legislation and /or rule changes to meet the needs of these critical facilities vital to the air transportation industry. The current tower at Tulsa International Airport was built in 1968 and fails to meet present -day operational standards. Congress must support any comprehensive federal infrastructure package that includes funding for this issue. Funding with only local pre -COVID dollars would increase the cost per enplanement at the airport, which would negatively impact airline growth in Tulsa. Due to severe financial strain of airport resources, there is no local funding available. MCCLELLAN -KERR ARKANSAS RIVER NAVIGATION SYSTEM: Increase congressional appropriations to address the approximately $229 million backlog of critical maintenance on the MKARNS. Failure to do so continues to put the system at risk of a long -term navigation shutdown due to failure of waterway infrastructure such as locks and dams. Support and fund the on -time completion of the White River Entrance Channel Cut -off PED (P reconstruction, Engineering, and Design phase) in the Army Corps of Engineers' Work Plan, at a cost of $5.7 million per year for the next two years. The PED is the last hurdle before the project can be fully funded and constructed. Unaddressed, this problem, caused by the tendency of the White and Arkansas rivers to merge during flooding, will lead to a loss of navigation on the entire system. Finally, continue to support efforts to deepen the MKARNS to its 12 -feet authorized depth, thereby increasing barge productivity by up to 40 %. ARKANSAS RIVER CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT: Support efforts to expedite the implementation of the Arkansas River Corridor Project for river infrastructure improvements. Allow federal match credit to be accrued for state and local expenditures in order to advance construction activity while preserving the Tulsa region's access to future federal funding for this authorized project. SUPPORT FUNDING FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE: Encourage Congress to pass an infrastructure bill that includes funding for water infrastructure programs. Our communities rely on federal funding for the water and wastewater infrastructure through EPA's Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs. Adding other funding sources for water infrastructure and water resource planning from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Agriculture, and the Army Corps of Engineers — including research funding from the Department of Energy for the development of treatment technologies of produced water for other beneficial uses —are all imperative to helping Oklahoma communities address the billions in critical infrastructure needs. TULSA'S LEVEE SYSTEM: Continue to support addressing the critical infrastructure needs of Tulsa's aging levee system, the importance of which was dramatically evidenced in 2019 by extended releases of water from Keystone Dam and the resulting downstream flooding. The recently approved feasibility study provides the basis for Preconstruction, Engineering and Design (PED) and, ultimately, construction of needed improvements. Support approval of a new Water Resources Development Act and timely federal appropriations and financing to implement the authorized improvements in the most expeditious manner. The Army Corps of Engineers has designated the Tulsa levees among the top 5% highest -risk levee systems in the country. If one levee fails, it would be catastrophic for homeowners, regional business advocacy 2021 Rtagionaa Legislative Agenda nationally strategic oil refineries and multiple industries currently protected by the system, and have devastating environmental impacts for our region. EDUCATED AND HEALTHY WORKFORCE FUND PELL GRANT PROGRAM AND ALLOW PELL GRANTS FOR CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT: Maintain current funding levels for the Pell Grant program, oppose attempts to cap per- student grants and support the reduction of the number of hours required to receive a Pell Grant. Support the bipartisan legislation (the Go to High School, Go to College Act) to expand the Department of Education pilot program that extends Pell eligibility to high school students participating in concurrent enrollment. FEDERAL HEALTH CARE REFORM: Encourage Congress to seek consistency and certainty as key principles to the structure and financing of Medicaid. Proposals that increase Oklahoma's uninsured rate and transfer federal risk to the state create an unpredictable environment that erodes the stability of the health care system. SUPPORT TRAINING OF MIDDLE -SKILL WORKERS: Support efforts to meet current industry needs for middle -skill workers eligible for jobs that require training beyond high school but less than a four -year college degree. This includes: • Funding the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act at the level recommended by Congress as reauthorized in 2014. • Providing dedicated support for partnerships between industry and higher education and vocational technology schools. • Increasing funding for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and expanding this program's support to include apprenticeships and other work -based learning. • Expand alternative pathways to employment, including apprenticeships, to allow for greater flexibility in learning opportunities. REFORM FEDERAL FINANCIAL AID: Support the reform of federal financial aid and eligibility. Simplify student loans by ensuring interest does not accrue while the borrower is in school, setting student loan interest rates based on Treasury bond rates and enacting other student loan reforms. Allow short-term, industry- driven training programs to qualify and expand student loan forgiveness programs for graduates in high- demand occupations with workforce shortages. These strategies will enhance career readiness and meet the demands of the workplace. REMOVE BARRIERS TO NEEDED INPATIENT TREATMENT IN OKLAHOMA: Open doors for recovery through repeal of the federal Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD) exclusion policy for Medicaid payments and the 190- daylifetime limit for inpatient treatment of Medicare recipients. USE OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIONS IN THE DELIVERY OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES: Incentivize innovations and standardization in technology (EMR /EHR /HIE) to improve access to health care data and Voice regional business advocacy 2021 Regional Legislative Agenda patient services through the sharing of health records to maximize health care delivery across all providers, including physical, mental /behavioral, substance abuse and social services. Build on what we have learned from the COVID -19 pandemic regarding the elimination of regulatory barriers, which impede the use of such technology, and maximize efficiencies for improved patient health with particular attention to include vulnerable populations. Develop standards for data exchange to further inter- and intra -state technology development to advance interoperability and integrated care.